Oil & Fuel 375 Massey Wont Start

[Overkill338]

It ran perfectly when I picked it up from having the clutch changed. Drove it 6 miles back to our lot. That was Friday.

Went to start it today, and nothing. So I put in a new fuel filter. Then bled the injectors. It started and ran (on two cylinders it sounded like) for about 4-5 seconds and died. It will start on starting fluid and run, until it's gone.

Someone stole the fuel out of it over the weekend. I'm actually thinking they did something to the tractor. It has happened before. Maybe they poured water in the tank?

I'm at a loss. If it wasn't "sabatoged" what else could cause this?

The fuel shut off is working properly. Also, as the engine is cranking over, its puffing white smoke out the stack.

 

[Roadworthy]

White smoke usually indicates water. You may wish to drain your tank then refill with fresh fuel. Allow the lines to flow with fresh fuel until whatever is there clears. Continue the bleeding sequence then try again to start.

 

[JWR]

Yeah, it sounds to me like you just haven't gotten the fuel system fully primed yet. But of course do all the good stuff with cleaning out filters and lines, etc. Lord knows what the thief may have left inside your tank, probably accidentally. May have stirred up enough sludge and crap to cause your issue too. It is a simple thief and not someone with a grudge?

You can use a dip stick and the home heating oil standard goo for testing for water in your fuel tank without the effort of removing it or doing much else unless warranted. [If you have not used it, they sell a tube of tan colored stuff which is smeared on a stick and inserted into the fuel tank to the bottom. If water is present it turns red.]

The smallest orifices on the high pressure side will pass fuel droplets and will NOT pass water droplets. When you bled the injector lines were you getting good flow at all of them? Of course you MIGHT not be getting anything out of the injection pump... but you'd know that before now.

OBTW doesn't the 375 have a bleeding valve somewhere ? Check your owner's manual.